Microsoft joins Google in sticking with GOP convention

Microsoft said Friday it will provide technology and other services to the Republican National Convention, joining Google in participating in the event despite a pressure campaign from progressive groups that want the companies to pull out over Donald Trump.

The software giant, however, said it won't provide a cash donation to the GOP convention.

Story Continued Below

For weeks, groups like ColorOfChange and Free Press Action Fund have called on the tech giants to withdraw from the July convention in Cleveland, citing Trump’s incendiary comments targeting women, immigrants and other minorities.

In a blog post, Microsoft said it “decided last fall to provide a variety of Microsoft technology products and services instead of making a cash donation” to the Republican convention. Fred Humphries, the company's corporate vice president of U.S. government affairs, wrote that Microsoft met with the liberal groups but remains “steadfast and comfortable with the decisions that we previously made” to take part in the event.

“So as we’ve explained to others, we’re not changing our planned activities for the conventions in 2016,” Humphries said. “We appreciate that this year’s conventions may have some more dramatic moments than in some prior years. This is all the more reason, in our view, to ensure that they benefit from technology tools that are used for a range of important activities, from helping to record accurate vote counts to sharing information quickly and accurately with delegates and the public.”

Microsoft long has been a major player at both parties’ political conventions. In 2012, it provided $1.5 million in donations to the Republican convention in Tampa that nominated Mitt Romney. Its decision to not donate to — but still play a role in — the 2016 GOP event drew a mixed reaction from ColorofChange.

“Microsoft took an important step forward today by standing against Republican front-runner Donald Trump’s bigotry and declining to provide cash support for the Republican National Convention,” said Rashad Robinson, the group's executive director. “We, however, will continue to call on Microsoft and other current sponsors to also stop the promotion of their products and airing of commercials during the convention, and will continue to press them on in-kind donations.”

Microsoft said it would also provide tech and "some sponsorship of host committee activities" at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia this summer.

Google on Thursday confirmed it would participate at the Republican convention, serving as its official livestream provider. The company declined to comment on whether it would donate to convention efforts.